Sunday

But just like one month earlier during the regular season, Cape Fear kept SMC off the scoreboard and took a 1-0 victory. Alaina Capps hit a crossing shot with 10:05 to play at Spartanburg High School and the eighth-ranked Sea Devils (17-0) won their second straight region tournament title.

They will advance to the NJCAA district championship round and will play Harford Community College (Bel Air, Md.) for a spot in the Division I nationals. Cape Fear last season won district for the first time in program history.

Eighteenth-ranked SMC (14-4) came in having won eight straight games by a combined score of 54-0 since losing Sept. 30 in Wilmington, N.C. The Pioneers were 12-3 this season against region teams, all losses to Cape Fear.

“We fought hard,” SMC head coach Dan Kenneally said. “They are No. 8 in the country and we can play with them. It was a great game. It’s a shame we can’t keep playing. I think this team is as good or better than the team we had at nationals (in 2015).”

SMC freshman goalkeeper Jennifer Byrd from Boiling Springs High School made a few remarkable saves in the second half. She blocked a shot with a dive and then, still lying on the ground, grabbed the ball as it was rolling slowly toward the line. She came out of the net to challenge for a ball, lost that one-on-one battle against a defender, but still got back to make a stop. Then with about 13 minutes remaining, the game still scoreless, she went high for another save.

“She was phenomenal again today,” Kenneally said. “There’s a reason she set school records (for shutouts and save percentage). She always comes up big. That goal wasn’t her fault. That was side netting, a rip to the back post. It wasn’t a dribbler. It was a solid shot and a good finish, well-earned.”